(A Spanish translation of this release will be posted here as soon as possible.)
The Washtenaw County Health Department is reporting a case of measles and warning the public about potential measles exposure at local emergency departments on Friday, March 1st. The Department of Health is working closely with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and Trinity Health Ann Arbor to investigate the situation and prevent further cases.
The measles virus can survive in the air for up to two hours, so people who were at the following locations and times could have been exposed:
Trinity Health Ann Arbor Emergency Department Waiting and triage area Friday, March 1st, 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.. Trinity Health, officially known as St. Joe's Ann Arbor, is located at 5301 McAuley Dr, Ypsilanti, MI 48197. There is no ongoing risk of infection from the identified cases.
Anyone who was at the venue on the dates and times listed above must receive the MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) vaccine within 72 hours (no later than Monday 4 March 2024). If you are not yet considered immune to measles. For vaccinations and guidance, contact your health care provider, pharmacy, or health department at 734-544-6700. Anyone who may have been exposed should monitor themselves for symptoms for 21 days. If symptoms appear, Please call in advance Before visiting your doctor, emergency room, or emergency room, you can take precautions to avoid infecting others.
People who have received two doses of measles vaccine (MMR) at appropriate intervals are considered immune. In addition, adults born before 1957 or with evidence of previous measles infection are considered immune. For children, the first dose of MMR vaccine is usually given at about 12 months of age, and the second dose begins at 4 years of age.
“Measles is highly contagious and spreads easily through the air,” said Juan Luis Marquez, MD, MPH, medical director of the Washtenaw County Health Department. “This means that people who may have been present need to be warned of possible exposure, especially as unvaccinated people are more likely to become ill if exposed. Masu.”
“Importantly, there is no ongoing reason for concern at the hospital,” continues Dr. Marquez. “This individual was quickly and appropriately isolated as soon as measles was suspected.”
measles
Measles is a highly contagious, vaccine-preventable disease that is spread by direct person-to-person contact and by airborne transmission. Symptoms of measles usually begin 7 to 14 days after exposure, but can appear up to 21 days after exposure and may include:
- High fever (sometimes over 104°F).
- cough.
- snot.
- Red and watery eyes (conjunctivitis).
- Two to three days after symptoms begin, small white spots (Koplik spots) appear on the inside of the cheeks, gums, and over the mouth.
- A red, raised patchy rash. It usually starts on the face and spreads to the trunk, arms, and legs 3 to 5 days after symptoms appear.
If you develop symptoms, contact your doctor, emergency room, or hospital before seeking treatment.
measles vaccine
Measles vaccines are highly effective and very safe. One dose of measles vaccine is about 93% effective in preventing measles, and two doses are about 97% effective. It can also help prevent the disease if used within 72 hours of exposure to measles. However, some people with compromised immune systems may not be eligible to receive this vaccine. Getting vaccinated not only protects the individual receiving the vaccine, but also protects vulnerable members of the community from exposure to the disease.
If you have not yet been vaccinated against measles, we recommend that you do so as soon as possible. Approximately 1 in 5 people will be hospitalized if they contract measles. In addition to the recent Michigan cases, more than 40 measles cases will be reported in 15 other states by 2024.
Routine immunization rates are decreasing across the United States and in Michigan. Statewide, MMR (two-dose) vaccination coverage for children ages 4 to 6 decreased from 89% in 2017 to 84% in 2022. Among children 19 to 35 months of age, MMR vaccination rates in Washtenaw County decreased. From 90% in 2017 to 81% in 2022.
Vaccinations are available from health care providers, pharmacies, and health departments. Children eligible for the Childhood Vaccine Program can receive free vaccines from health care providers enrolled in the program. Vaccines for Children (VFC): Information for Parents | CDC. The health department accepts Medicaid and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. The Department of Health does not deny services to individuals if they are unable to pay.
